For an artist with serious mainstream aspirations, Decatur, Georgia’s Jarren Benton has spent his career going against the grain. One of Funk Volume’s premiere acts, Jarren admits, “I love the music I do now. I do it in the safe-mode.” That’s rather shocking for an artist whose last album, Freebasing With Kevin Bacon lived up to its name, at least in attitude and style, evident on single “Skitzo.” He continues, “I want to take it a lil’ further. I just haven’t had the balls to go all the way there yet, ‘cause I presently want to keep a foot in the mainstream too.”

However, courage is not something Benton’s music or live show is lacking. Studied in the anything-goes showmanship of Prince, Marilyn Manson and Method Man, Jarren shares, “The essence of giving of a good show is not givin’ a fuck,” he says, while pointing to stage-diving, beer-chugging and more depending on the night’s particular vibe. This type of authenticity, balanced with intricate, golden ear-informed lyricism has attracted attention from Erick Sermon (EPMD, Redman) to No I.D. (Common, Kanye West) in courting Jarren to potential major label deals. However for the father and family provider, only indie juggernaut Funk Volume really voiced his biggest concerns. “All I was asking for was progress. I just wanted to know that what I was doing was the right move – especially chasing a dream with a family.” Funk Volume offered what Def Jam and the others weren’t – and in recent years, Jarren has been able to support his family and his dreams simultaneously.

In addition to Funk Volume, which Jarren refers to as “family,” the rapper maintains strong ties in the Atlanta community, such as Rittz, Playboy Tre, Spitzwell and his SMKA affiliates. “It’s the best of both worlds,” says Jarren, of playing a significant role in a respected collective of talent, as well as being an artist in one of the most powerful new labels in Hip Hop. “We all still came from that era about lyricism, even if you were making Southern music.”

After two successful digital releases and a video fast-approaching one million YouTube plays, Jarren is hard at work on what will inevitably be his biggest album to date. Following the star-filled supporting cast of Freebasing With Kevin Bacon and Huffin’ Glue With Hasselhoff, the comedic emcee promises to break from the series with a purpose in mind. “This one has a different vibe. It’s a lot more personal stuff so people can learn who Jarren is,” he says, also suggesting more refined production that translates more to his ambitions of being a household name. In the same vein, that courage Jarren felt was missing is brewing on his upcoming work. The vet points to “Heart Attack” and “Smells Like Murder” with R.A. The Rugged Man as some of the most conceptual, dazzling work he’s recorded to date.

“From my ranges of influence, I think a lot fans appreciate my personalities, but they don’t really get into the music… yet,” admits Benton of his available catalog. The stakes are high and the time is right for the man who has pursued a dream for a decade. “I love this. I’m not driven by money, but I’m conscious of making music that can be universally appreciated.” It is coming to life for an artist closely connected with the tenants of Hip Hop: style, skill and absolutely not givin’ a fuck.

71 Responses to “Jarren Benton”

Funk Volume has no one from the east coast and hardly do shows out here like that I want you to listen to BLUE LUCHIANO out of NYC and consider him being a part of the movementhttp://www.soundcloud.com/blueluchiano1 you tube : blue luchiano – Ill story – Alter ego

Jarren, I know your a insanely busy person. If you are ever in the central Florida and are able to stop in a town called Lakeland,.. well theres a person or two that need to see and hear a true artist in person. Mainstream views are generally shit in the rap world and people think its all about money. It is about the money but thats not it is. Me being a small time artist I know that feeling you get when on a stage. It would be crazy. Hopsin, Dizzy, Swizzz, you are all insanely real and I wish all you could just pop up and show lakelands scene what music is. If you do check this I do appreciate your time. Thanks and much love to all of FV.

Hey man, I would never listen to rappers spitting about drugs and shit like that thats why I always liked hopsin which got me into dizzy wright and swizZz but then I heard you, although you did rap about that stuff it didnt bother me cuz you had so much talent and you seem intellengent. Respect man. It would be awesome if you did a collab with t.I

You crack me up to say he needs to collab with T.I smh fuck the industry jarren kills shit he’s on a whole nother level then ti. Jarren can’t wait to see u in COLUMBUS me an my cuzin goin to be there keep doin what your doin freebasing in my grandmothers basement Is gonna blow u up shit goes in lyrically I love your music man

What yall niggas dont understand tho, is it aint about whos better than who, rappin is an art, a way of expressing yourself, Jarren has his own style, just like Dizzy has his own style, Hop, SwizZz , every rapper has their own unique way of spittin, but all that matters is that the Rappers like Jarren and Diz and all these niggas keep droppin hits and we as the fans keep that shit turnt up and show mad love bcuz thats really what its all about.

Love the shit man would kill a mother fucker for ya, pre ordered and loved the shit for sure cant wait to listen to more shit in the future. Love the reaction from everyone i work with basically same as beginning of go off.

I started with hopsin which worked to swizZz(who has so much more talent then hopsin) back when they signed dizzy and then I heard benton who is by far the best rapper at FV SwizZz and Benton don’t get enough hype like hopsin which sucks cause Benton kills any beat you put him on

I would like to thank Jarren Benton for signing my CD in Atlanta, GA on August 2nd. I am i huge fan of FV as a whole your talented and style is sooo off the charts for me i cant get away from it. everytime i introduce your music to ppl i tell them ” alright man hope your ready for THE BENTON cuz shit its about to get real, open ur ears and appreciate “.

Jarren !?!? What happened to you at your Nov 1st show man!?! You were they only reason I went all the way out to diamonds to that show and when you time slot came up the dj stalled forever…I couldn’t even buy one of your shirts , no one ever showed up to your booth and towards the end of the night all your stuff was just gone from your booth!?

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I knew when Megan and I met you at the EMPIRE a year or so ago, you were heading to the top! Not only can you perform but you’re down to earth as well. Love your sound! Best listened to by huge speakers as long as you can be seen in action! I’m thrilled for you and your family! Please come to the NORVA. Maybe you can call us up there

Much love! Keep it up Jarren. It was nice to meet n get a big hug from u at the independent grind tour in st.paul and the funk volume tour! I cherish the shirt u singed after kato n put “is a bitch” underneath his lmao still makes me geek the fuck out. I wish they lined u up right before tech n krizzz but what do u do right, well anyways like I said when I met u, keep it up n once again much love from MN!

Thanks for another informative blog. Where else may just I am getting that kind of information written in such a perfect approach? I have a challenge that I’m just now running on, and I’ve been at the look out for such information.

Hopsin got me out of the matrix of brain washing bullshit garbage rap.. His company SwizzZ also is an extremely talented dude who has raw metaphors. Dizzy is the future of main he’s the actual trippy hippy, fuck Wiz although Wiz is Jesus compared to a lot of goblin fuck main stream artists. Jarren is a monster with words and his metaphors put me in shock and he’s hilarious! FV on repeat also SM!!!

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